By Arinze Ude.GROUP A: South AfricaCape VerdeAngolaMorocco
AFCON traditonally starts with a game between the host nation and another country in Group A and so it was when South Africa tackled AFCON debutants, Cape Verde on Saturday.
SOUTH AFRICA 0 – 0 CAPE VERDE
The Blue Sharks of Cape Verde earned their first ever AFCON point when they held hosts, South Africa to a dour stalemate.
This is the first time in the history of the tournament, the opening match has finished in a draw. Bafana Bafana struggled from start to finish, lacking creativity in the middle of the park.
Cape Verdean striker, Platini had the best chance of the game but shot horribly off target from close range.
As it stands, Bafana Bafana have not won an Africa Cup of Nations match since 2004. They failed to win a game in 2006 and 2008 and did not qualify in 2010 and 2012. Their only triumph in the competition was in 1996 when a Neil Tovey-led side lifted the trophy on home soil.
Cape Verde Islands, which boasts of world stars, Henrik Larsson and Nani as their own, has a population of just over 500,000 and are making their first ever appearance in Africa’s elite comeptition. They are ranked 69th in the Fifa world rankings (compared to South Africa’s 87th).
South Africa’s Line Up:
16 Khune – 05 Ngcongca (Booked), 11 Matlaba, 14 Khumalo, 21 Sangweni – 08 Tshabalala (Thulani Serero – 60′), 12 Letsholonyane, 13 Dikgacoi (Chabangu – 46′), 18 Thuso Phala – 07 Majoro (Mphela – 69′), 17 Parker
Subs: 01 Sandilands, 22 Meyiwa, 02 Gaxa, 03 Masilela, 04 Nthethe, 06 Chabangu, 10 Thulani Serero, 15 Furman, 19 Mahlangu, 20 Manyisa, 09 Mphela, 23 Rantie
Cape Verde Islands’ Line Up:
01 Josimar Vozinha – 03 Varela, 06 Neves, 08 Varela, 18 Nivaldo – 23 Carlitos, 05 Babanco, 07 Luis Platini Booked (Julio Tavares – 63′), 15 Paulo Marco Soares – 10 Heldon (Silva – 76′), 20 Ryan (Souto – 85′)
Subs: 12 Fock, 16 Rilly, 13 Lima, 14 Admilson Gege, 19 Pecks, 02 Stenio Santos, 04 Ramos, 17 Souto, 22 Silva, 09 do Rosario Rambe, 11 Julio Tavares, 21 Djaniny
Ref: Djamel HaimoudiAtt: 50,000ANGOLA 0 – 0 MOROCCO
Angola and Morocco produced yet another goal-less draw of the day.
The second game was better than the opening match with both teams coming close to breaking the deadlock.
The best chance of the game fell to Angolan debutant Guilherme Afonso after a goalkeeping gaffee from Moroccan keeper Nadir Lamyaghri but the striker couldn’t find the target.
Montpellier Herault SC ace, Younes Belhanda, almost got a winning goal but he saw his shot go inches wide after an amazing run through the Angolan defence.
Angola’s Line Up:
01 Lama – 03 Lunguinha (Airosa – 78′), 04 Alex Afonso Dani Massunguna, 13 Bastos, 15 Miguel – 20 Regio Mingo Bile (Afonso – 46′), 06 Dede, 16 Pirolito, 18 Da Costa (Gilberto – 82′), 09 Manucho (Booked), 17 Mateus
Subs: 12 Landu, 22 Neblu, 02 Airosa, 05 Fabricio, 10 Francisco Zuela, 14 Costa, 07 Djalma, 08 Manucho Dinis, 11 Gilberto, 21 Manuel, 19 Yano, 23 Afonso
Morocco’s Line Up:
01 Lamyaghri – 02 Abderrahim Chakir, 05 Benatia (Booked), 15 El Kaoutari – 17 El Adoua, 06 Hermach, 21 Amrabat, 08 El Ahmadi (Belghazouani – 82′), 11 Assaidi – 14 El Hamdaoui (El Arabi – 71′), 07 Barrada (Belhanda – 63′ Booked)
Subs: 12 Anas Zniti, 22 Askri, 03 Bergdich, 04 Kantari, 16 Abdelatif Noussir, 10 Belhanda, 13 Youssef Kaddioui, 19 Chafni, 23 Mehdi Namli, 09 El Arabi, 18 Belghazouani, 20 Abderazak Hamdallah
Venue: FNB Stadium, JohannesburgAtt: 25,000GROUP B: Ghana MaliDR CongoNiger Republic
Group B kicked off their round robin matches on Sunday with Ghana entertaining DR Congo and Mali tussling with Niger Republic.
GHANA 2 – 2 DR CONGO
Emmanuel Agyemang became the first goal scorer of this year’s edition of AFCON when he slotted home a Kwadwo Asamoah pass.
Kwadwo Asamoah then went from provider to scorer when he headed home a corner to double Ghana’s lead.
DR Congo rallied and came back into the game after a cool finish from unarguably the best player based in Africa at the moment, Tresor Mputu, before Dieumerci Mbokani slotted home the equaliser from 12 yards out after he was hurled down by a Ghanaian defender.
Ghana captain, Asamoah Gyan missed a sitter when he sent a horrific shot off target after been put through on goal by Derek Boateng.
The lineup for both teams are as follows:
Ghana’s Line Up:
16 Dauda – 04 Pantsil, 13 Akaminko, 21 Boye, 07 Atsu (Rabiu – 56′) – 08 Agyemang, 09 Boateng (Annan – 73′), 10 Adomah Booked (Afful – 81′), 20 Asamoah – 22 Wakaso (Booked), 03 Gyan
Subs: 01 Adjei, 12 Larsen, 02 Richard Boateng, 05 Awal, 15 Vorsah, 19 Jonathan Mensah, 23 Afful, 06 Annan, 11 Rabiu, 14 Asante, 17 Clottey, 18 Boakye-Yiadom
Congo DR’s Line Up:
01 Kidiaba – 02 Issama, 03 Kasusula, 14 Mabiala, 17 Mongongu (Zakuani – 74′) – 07 Mulumbu, 18 Makiadi, 04 Kabangu (Kaluyituka Dioko – 68′), 08 Mabi – 09 Mbokani, 15 LuaLua (Kanda – 66′ )
Subs:
16 Mandanda, 23 Landu Bakala, 05 Mulemo, 19 Mbemba, 21 Zakuani, 10 Matumona, 12 Ilunga, 22 Makuntima Kisombe, 06 Manzia, 11 Kanda, 13 Kaluyituka Dioko, 20 Nzinga Luvumbu
Ref: BennetAtt: 7,000MALI 1 – 0 NIGER
A late goal from Mali captain, Seydou Keita was enough to hand his team a deserved victory over their West African counterparts and the first win of the tournament.
The ex-Sevilla, Barcelona and Lens midfielder slotted home with 6 minutes left to play after Fousseiny Diawara’s cross from the right was parried by the Niger goalie, Daouda Kassaly.
If Seydou Keita produces the kind of performance that saw him win the Most Valuable player ahead of Xavi, Ronaldinho et al at Nigeria 99 (World Youth Championship), then Mali are headed for cup glory.
The line up for both teams are as follows:
Mali’s Line Up:
01 Mamadou Samassa (Booked) – 02 Diawara, 03 Tamboura, 13 Wague, 21 Ndiaye – 08 Traore (Sissoko – 63′), 11 Sigamary Diarra (Diakite – 79′), 12 Keita, 17 Abdrahamane Traore – 07 Cheick Diarra (Samassa – 46′), 09 Diabate
Subs: 16 Soumaila Diakite, 22 Ali Yirango, 04 Coulibaly, 05 Coulibaly, 19 Salif Coulibaly, 06 Sissoko, 14 Yatabare, 18 Samba Sow, 20 Diakite, 10 Maiga, 15 Samassa, 23 Diarra
Niger’s Line Up:
16 Daouda – 08 Kourouma, 13 Chicoto, 18 Dan Kowa, 19 Koudize (Issoufou – 88′) – 21 Bachar, 23 Soumaila (Booked), 03 Lancina, 14 Issoufou (Booked (Talatou – 78′) – 02 Maazou, 07 Sidibe
Subs: 01 Alzouma, 22 Saminou, 04 Amadou, 05 James, 15 Alassane, 06 Laouali, 10 Talatou, 12 Sakou, 17 N’Gounou, 20 Amadou, 09 Kamilou, 11 Issoufou
Ref: Slim JedidiAtt: 20,000
